| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 1 167 615 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
02.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/01 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
02.01.2002 Bulletin 2002/01 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 28.06.2001 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC)7: D06F 58/28 |
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL LT LV MK RO SI |
| (30) |
Priority: |
30.06.2000 US 215429 P
|
| (71) |
Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION |
|
Benton Harbor Michigan 49022 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Woerdehoff, Christopher J., c/o Whirlpool Corpor.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
- Glotzbach, Patrich Joseph, c/o Whirlpool Corpor.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
- Reck, Andrew C., c/o Whirlpool Corpor.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
- Szynal, Joseph M., c/o Whirlpool Corpor.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
- Maddix, Beth, A., c/o Whirlpool Corpor.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Guerci, Alessandro |
|
Whirlpool Europe S.r.l. Patent Department Viale G. Borghi 27
21025 Comerio (VA)
21025 Comerio (VA) (IT) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Fuzzy logic control for an electric clothes dryer |
(57) A method and apparatus for controlling the drying cycle of a dryer by utilizing fuzzy
logic control. Control is accomplished by first monitoring the moisture level of a
clothes load in the dryer. From the monitored moisture information, variables such
as the elapsed time from the start of the drying cycle to a point when no significant
moisture is detected for a specified time period and the number of times higher moisture
registrations occur during another specified time period are determined. Based on
the determined variables, fuzzy logic is used to determine characteristics particular
to the clothes load being dried, such as size of the load. Using the determined characteristics
in conjunction with user settings more accurate control of the time of drying heat
application, reduced drying heat application and cool down time can be accomplished.